Always sensitive about his inability
to read and write, this anecdote illustrates Shoeless Joe's manner of
coping:

After being traded to the White Sox,
a large Cleveland woman who taunted opposing players from her third
base box seat decided to taunt Shoeless Joe about his illiteracy. She
ripped into him: "Hey Joe! How do you spell Mississippi? How do
you spell Mississippi, Joe?"

After smashing a triple, Joe looked
over and quietly asked, "How do you spell triple, fat lady?"